EXPLORING A CLASSIC

It’s difficult to imagine how many children will have read those words or how many parents will have voiced a bedtime story of the tales of a Bear of Very Little Brain. Penned by A.A. Milne in his classic children’s book Winnie-the-Pooh, which was first published in 1926, it’s amazing to think that more than 90 years later this loveable bear is still delighting audiences both young and old.

From December 9, the Victoria and Albert Museum is acknowledging the place that Winnie-the-Pooh and his trusty band of much-loved friends – Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo, Owl, Piglet, Rabbit and Tigger – have on our collective conscience by gathering together the largest ever selection of original drawings, prints, manuscripts, proofs and early editions created by A.A. Milne and illustrator E.H. Shepard, the man who brought the imaginary characters to life on the page.

While exhibition-goers can marvel at E.H. Shepard’s famed Poohsticks pen and ink illustration, which will be displayed alongside the original pencil sketch, or listen to a charming 1929 recording of A.A. Milne reading Winnie-the-Pooh, younger visitors to Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic will enjoy the storytelling trees, dressing-up areas and a ‘picnic’ drawing table. Honey lovers (or should that be hunny lovers for those Walt Disney fans out there?) will also be in their element, as the V&A is also selling homemade honey collected from the hives on its South Kensington rooftop. Let’s just hope the bees don’t get suspicious.